Red-crowned Crane (Grus japonensis) — Vulnerable

Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), a white crane with a red crown and black neck. — Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis); this individual is in a zoo.
Image: Isiwal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category: VU · Vulnerable
Animal group: Birds
Population trend: Decreasing
FaunaHub record reviewed: 2026-06-16
Checked against IUCN: Matches source — IUCN's 2021 global assessment of Grus japonensis says VulnerableChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28

Conservation overview

The red-crowned crane is one of the rarest and most revered cranes, with a patch of bare red skin on its crown. It is assessed as Vulnerable.

It is a deep cultural symbol of luck and longevity in East Asia.

Range & habitat

Wetlands of East Asia, including parts of China, Japan, Korea, and Russia.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

Loss and drainage of wetlands
Disturbance
A small population

Why it matters

A wetland specialist and a powerful cultural symbol in East Asia, the red-crowned crane is a flagship for conserving the region's threatened marshes.

Gallery

A red-crowned crane standing tall. — Red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis); a zoo individual.
Image: Animalculum, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Red-crowned Crane

IUCN Red List — look up Red-crowned Crane (authoritative status)
BirdLife International

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the red-crowned crane culturally important?

In East Asian cultures it is a long-standing symbol of luck, fidelity, and long life, appearing widely in art and folklore — which has helped drive conservation interest.

Why is the red-crowned crane Vulnerable?

Published assessments cite the loss and drainage of wetlands, disturbance, and its small population. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.